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Visitors paying to take photos with dogs has been a curious but popular phenomenon for many years at tourist destinations like Lam Vien Square, Xuan Huong Lake and the Da Lat night market area.
At Lam Vien alone there are some 10 people with more than 30 dogs of various breeds like Alaskan malamutes, huskies and poodles, and tourists typically pay VND30,000-50,000 (US$1.2-2) for a photo session.
But Nhat Vy of HCMC, who visited Da Lat on August 10, observed dogs "working non-stop" at the square, posing for photos from morning until evening. "That's animal abuse and exploitation," she says.
Nhung Nguyen, the head of the Da Lat Animal Lovers group, says this year alone she has received over 100 complaints about dog abuse at tourist spots in Da Lat.
"In many cases owners were seen repeatedly hitting the dogs on their heads and faces with long sticks, chaining them and forcing them to stay in one position for hours. Taking photos with pets must be stopped immediately."
A video shared by a tourist captures the moment a dog owner mistreats his pet in Cau Duc alley, near Yersin Park in Da Lat, on Aug. 10, 2024.
Ton That Thanh Vu, an official in Ward 10, where Lam Vien Square is located, claims pet photography businesses are run by people from other localities. "So far this year authorities have slapped fines in three cases of animal abuse."
Pham Thanh Thi, 42, a Da Lat local who frequently walks her dog at Lam Vien Square, often sees owners hitting their dogs when they refuse to cooperate during photo sessions.
These actions "damage the image of Da Lat in the eyes of visitors," Thi says.
On August 17 a social media account carried pictures and videos of a dog being beaten by its owner at Lam Vien Square. They quickly went viral, attracting thousands of indignant comments that called for a boycott of the business.
Many people also blamed the abuse on the high demand for the photo ops, especially from tourists.
Ngoc Phuong, 26, of Binh Duong Province supports the boycott, especially if no solutions are found to ensure the well-being of the animals.
"These pets should not be used as mere money-making tools by humans."
Local authorities have pledged to crack down on dog photography businesses that abuse animals.
